News for November 9, 1999

Camenzind gambling

Ex-World Champion, Oscar Camenzind is gambling for a better deal in his next contract with Lampre. No papers are signed and Camenzind is reported to describe the offer from Lampre as "financially unacceptable", according to Swiss radio station DRS. Camenzind's contract for the 1999 season was worth around 1 million Swiss Francs. He is now counting on that Lampre will get more money from sponsors to keep him on the team.

The 28 year old Camenzind is risking getting stuck in the same situation as Fernando Escartin earlier this fall: Too few alternatives since most of the teams now have their key positions fixed.

Camenzind, ranked 13 in the world, has also turned down an offer from Telekom but has two other alternatives: Italian second division team Ballan, who lost their up and coming man, Simoni to Lampre(!) and Spanish team Vitalicio Seguros who lost their new World Champion Oscar Freire along with several other good riders.